Asymmetric hydrocyanation of olefins catalyzed by chiral diphosphite-nickel complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0957-4166(00)00026-4

Chiral aryl diphosphite ligands derived from binaphthol were found to be effective in the nickel-catalyzed hydrocyanation of a variety of olefins. Enantioselective hydrocyanations of styrene, 4-substituted styrenes and norbornene were achieved with excell

Full text of DOI:10.1016/S0957-4166(00)00026-4

TETRAHEDRON:
ASYMMETRY
Pergamon
Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 11 (2000) 845–849
Asymmetric hydrocyanation of olefins catalyzed by chiral
diphosphite–nickel complexes
Ming Yan, Qian-Yong Xu and Albert S. C. Chan ∗
Open Laboratory of Chirotechnology and Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Received 25 October 1999; accepted 5 January 2000
Abstract
Chiral aryl diphosphite ligands derived from binaphthol were found to be effective in the nickel-catalyzed
hydrocyanation of a variety of olefins. Enantioselective hydrocyanations of styrene, 4-substituted styrenes and
norbornene were achieved with excellent regioselectivity and moderate enantioselectivity. The hydrocyanation of
vinyl acetate gave 72.9% ee. The catalytic activity and the enantioselectivity of the Ni(0)–diphosphite complexes
were found to be highly dependent on the structures of the ligands. © 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All
rights reserved.
1. Introduction
Catalytic asymmetric carbon–carbon bond formation is of fundamental importance in organic synthe-
sis. The asymmetric hydrocyanation of olefins catalyzed by transition metal complexes containing chiral
phosphorus ligands provides a useful method for the preparation of optically active nitriles which can be
easily converted to other useful compounds.1 In spite of DuPont’s successful industrial hydrocyanation
process for the preparation of adiponitrile, research on asymmetric hydrocyanation is surprisingly rare.2
Ni(0) and Pd(0) complexes of chiral diphosphite and phosphine–phosphite were examined in the hy-
drocyanation of norbornene with low enantioselectivity.3,4 Highly enantioselective hydrocyanation of
vinyl naphthalene was reported by RajanBabu et al. using phosphinite ligands with strong electron-
withdrawing substituents.5,6 In our pursuit of the synthesis and application of novel chiral diphosphite
ligands, we prepared a series of diphosphite ligands based on binaphthol.7,8 In this paper we report the
enantioselective hydrocyanation of a variety of olefins using chiral diphosphite–nickel catalysts which
gave promising enantioselectivities.
∗
Corresponding author. E-mail: bcachan@polyu.edu.hk
0957-4166/00/$ - see front matter © 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0957-4166(00)00026-4
tetasy 3249

846
M. Yan et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 11 (2000) 845–849
2. Results and discussion
Diphosphites La–Ld were prepared via the reaction of the corresponding chlorophosphite with aryl
diols.7,8 The hydrocyanation of styrene was carried out using the catalysts prepared in situ by mixing
Ni(COD)2 with the chiral diphosphites. Acetone cyanohydrin was used in the reactions and proved to be
a more convenient and safer source of hydrogen cyanide than the extremely toxic free hydrogen cyanide.
Nonpolar solvents such as hexane, benzene and toluene gave comparable reaction rates and ee values for
the products. The reactions did not occur in chloroform and acetonitrile. Initially the Ni(0) complexes of
ligands La–Ld were examined in the hydrocyanation of styrene and the results are summarized in Table
1.
Table 1
a
The enantioselective hydrocyanation of styrene with Ni(0) complexes of La–Ld
The presence of a diphosphite ligand was essential for the occurrence of the reaction (entry 1) and
excellent regioselectivities for branched nitrile 1 were achieved with Ni(COD)2/La–Ld complexes. The
previous studies on the hydrocyanation of olefins with chiral phosphite ligands and various achiral
phosphorus ligands demonstrated significant steric and electronic effects of the ligands.5,9 In this
study the structures of the chiral diphosphite ligands also showed profound influence on the catalytic
activity and enantioselectivity. Ni(COD)2/Lb and Ni(COD)2/Lc gave very low catalytic activity and
enantioselectivity (entries 3 and 4). Ni(COD)2/La provided branched nitrile with 23.4% ee and 12.6%

M. Yan et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 11 (2000) 845–849
847
conversion (entry 2). Ni(COD)2/Ld gave 65% ee and 10.5% conversion at 20°C (entry 5) and a 47.6%
conversion was achieved at 100°C with 49.1% ee (entry 7). Further studies of the Ni(COD)2/Ld complex
uncovered a remarkable increase of conversion using higher ligand-to-nickel ratios and the results are
summarized in Table 2.
Table 2
The influence of the ligand-to-nickel ratio on the conversion and enantioselectivity in the hydrocyana-
a
tion of styrene with Ni(COD)2/Ld
The enantioselectivity was essentially independent of the ligand-to-nickel ratio, but the increase
of ligand-to-nickel ratio significantly improved the conversion (Table 2, entries 1–5). The catalyst
deactivation was found to be a serious problem in many phosphine–nickel and phosphite–nickel catalyst
systems.9,10 A deactivation pathway of Ni(0) catalysts via the formation of the inactive Ni(CN)2 species
was proposed by Goertz et al.10 With the Ni(COD)2/Ld catalyst system the excess ligand Ld may be
beneficial in shifting the balance toward the active catalytic species.
The nickel complex of Ld was further examined in the hydrocyanation of other olefins and the
results are listed in Table 3. The hydrocyanation of 4-fluorostyrene gave complete conversion and the
enantioselectivity was comparable to that of the hydrocyanation of styrene (Table 3, entry 3). Electron-
rich substitutents such as methoxyl group gave somewhat lower enantioselectivity (Table 3, entry 2). The
hydrocyanation of vinyl acetate led to α-hydroxyl propylnitrile with promising enantioselectivity (Table
3, entry 5). The hydrocyanation of vinylnaphthalene afforded low conversion and enantioselectivity
(Table 3, entry 6).
In conclusion, diphosphite Ld was an effective ligand in the nickel-catalyzed enantioselective hydro-
cyanation of styrene, norbornene and vinyl acetate. The enantioselectivities achieved so far are moderate
but still superior to those obtained with other chiral diphosphite and phosphine–phosphite ligands. Further
studies directed toward the synthesis of more efficient diphosphite ligands and the expansion of the scope
of the substrates are in progress.
3. Experimental
All reactions were carried out in oven-dried glassware using standard Schlenk technique under nitrogen
atmosphere. Toluene was distilled from sodium/benzophenone and triethylamine was distilled from
1
CaH2. PCl3 was distilled before use. 31P, H and 13C NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker DPX-
400 spectrometer. Mass analyses were performed on a Finnigan Model Mat 95 ST mass spectrometer.

848
M. Yan et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 11 (2000) 845–849
Table 3
a
The hydrocyanation of olefins with Ni(COD)2/Ld
Optical rotations were measured on a Perkin–Elmer Model 341 polarimeter. GC analyses were performed
on an HP 4890 apparatus equipped with a FID.
3.1. Synthesis of diphosphites La–Ld
(S)-Binaphthol (1.0 g, 3.4 mmol) was azeotropically dried with toluene (3×5 ml) and was dissolved
in toluene (6 ml) and triethylamine (1.7 ml, 12 mmol). This solution was added dropwise to a solution
of PCl3 (0.32 ml, 1.8 mmol) and triethylamine (1.7 ml, 12 mmol) in toluene (6 ml) in an ice bath. The
reaction mixture was refluxed for 8 h. After the Et3N·HCl was filtered off, the solvent and excess of
PCl3 were removed under vacuum to give a colorless oil. Toluene (5 ml) was added and re-evaporated
under vacuum. This procedure was repeated three times to remove any trace of PCl3. The resulting
chlorophosphite was dissolved in toluene (10 ml) and placed in an ice bath. To this solution was
added dropwise a solution of (S)-binaphthol (0.5 g, 1.7 mmol), triethylamine (1.2 ml, 8.5 mmol) and
4-dimethylaminopyridine (42 mg, 0.34 mmol) in toluene (10 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred for
8 h at 0°C and filtered through a layer of alkaline alumina. The filtrate was evaporated under vacuum to
give a white solid, which was recrystallized from CH2Cl2–EtOH to give 1.0 g of pure La. Yield 64.5%.
Elemental analysis for C60H36O6P2·0.5C2H6O (crystalline solvent), calcd: C, 78.12; H, 4.16. Found: C,
78.13; H, 4.16. 31P NMR (CDCl3): δ 145.7 ppm. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz): δ 7.97 (d, J 8.8 Hz, 2H),
7.90 (d, J 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.82 (dd, J1 8.0 Hz, J2 8.8 Hz, 4H), 7.73 (d, J 8.0 Hz), 7.52 (d, J 8.8 Hz, 2H), 7.37
(m, 8H), 7.16–7.31 (m, 14H), 6.53 (d, J 8.8 Hz, 2H), 3.72 (q, J 6.8 Hz, 1H), 2.36 (s, 0.5H), 1.24 (t, J 6.8
Hz, 1.5H). 13C NMR (CDCl3): δ 147.2, 147.0, 146.5, 134.2, 132.7, 132.2, 131.4, 131.0, 130.8, 130.2,
130.0, 129.5, 128.3, 128.2, 128.1, 126.9, 126.8, 126.2, 126.0, 125.8, 125.1, 124.9, 124.6, 124.2, 122.4,
20
121.8, 121.7, 121.1 ppm. MS (ESI): 915 (M++1, 100%). Mp: 196–198°C (decomp.). [α] =+346.6 (c
D
1.085, THF).
Lb, Lc and Ld were synthesized via a similar procedure and the crude Ld was purified by column
chromatography:

M. Yan et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 11 (2000) 845–849
849
Lb: 31P NMR (CDCl3): δ 142.3 ppm. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz): δ 1.67 (s, 6H), 2.29 (s, 6H), 7.09
(m, 10H), 7.33 (m, 10H), 7.49 (d, J 8.8 Hz, 2H), 7.64 (s, 2H), 7.68 (d, J 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.75 (d, J 8.0 Hz,
2H), 7.83 (d, J 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.87 (d, J 8.8 Hz, 2H). 13C NMR (CDCl3): δ 16.9, 17.3, 120.6, 120.7, 122.0,
123.0, 124.5, 124.8, 124.9, 125.1, 125.8, 126.0, 126.8, 126.9, 127.4, 127.47, 128.0, 129.2, 129.6, 130.0,
130.08, 130.2, 130.9, 131.0, 131.3, 131.5, 133.8, 146.0, 147.5, 147.7 ppm. MS (ESI): 971 (M++1, 10%).
20
D
Mp: 202–204°C. [α] =+459.7 (c 0.81, benzene).
Lc: 31P NMR (CDCl3): δ 145.7 ppm. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz): δ 1.55 (s, 6H), 6.52 (d, J 8.8 Hz,
2H), 7.16–7.27 (m, 12H), 7.29–7.42 (m, 8H), 7.51 (d, J 8.8 Hz, 2H), 7.73 (d, J 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.79 (d, J 8.8
Hz, 2H), 7.83 (d, J 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.89 (d, J 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.97 (d, J 8.8 Hz, 2H). MS (ESI): 943 (M++1,
20
17%). Mp: 168–170°C. [α] =+138.0 (c 0.56, benzene).
Ld: 31P NMR CDCl3): δ D141.6 (s), 143.0 (s) ppm. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz): δ 1.17 (s, 9H), 1.32
(s, 9H), 1.43 (s, 9H), 1.55 (s, 9H), 6.77 (d, J 8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.12 (d, J 8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.19–7.23 (m, 8H),
7.31–7.40 (m, 8H), 7.53 (d, J 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.60–7.63 (m, 2H), 7.67 (d, J 8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.75 (d, J 8.4 Hz,
1H), 7.81–7.86 (m, 5H). 13C NMR (CDCl3): δ 30.52, 31.02, 31.30, 31.69, 34.52, 34.68, 35.46, 35.72,
122.06, 122.30, 122.52, 122.76, 122.88, 124.51, 124.58, 124.88, 124.95, 125.71, 125.90, 125.99, 127.09,
128.15, 128.24, 128.33, 129.17, 129.33, 129.42, 129.76, 130.12, 130.74, 130.93, 131.34, 131.42, 132.39,
132.45, 132.66, 132.71, 140.49, 140.78, 145.04, 145.40, 146.84, 147.12, 147.77, 148.38, 148.71 ppm.
20
D
HRMS for C68H64O6P2, calcd: 1038.4178. Found: 1038.4150. Mp: 250–252°C. [α] =+170.9 (c 1.0,
benzene).
3.2. Typical procedure for the asymmetric hydrocyanation of olefins
Ni(COD)2 (2 mg, 7.3×10−3 mmol), Ld (53 mg, 51.1×10−3 mmol) and toluene (2 ml) were added
to a Schlenk vessel and the mixture was stirred for 5 minutes. After olefin (0.73 mmol) and acetone
cyanohydrin (0.073 ml, 0.80 mmol) were added, the reaction mixture was placed in an oil bath at
100°C and stirred for 24 h. n-Dodecane (61 mg, 0.36 mmol) as internal standard was added and the
reaction solution was filtered through a thin layer of silica gel and the filtrate was analyzed by GC for
the determination of conversion, selectivity and enantiomeric excess according to the methods reported
in the text.
Acknowledgements
We thank the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Hong Kong Research Grant Council (Project
number PolyuU34/96P) for financial support of this study.
References
1. Noyori, R. Asymmetric Catalysis in Organic Synthesis; VCH: New York, 1993; Chapter 4, p. 169.
2. Tolman, C. A.; Mckinney, R. J.; Seidel, W. C.; Druliner, J. D.; Stevens, W. R. Adv. Catal. 1985, 33, 1.
3. Baker, M. J.; Pringle, P. G. J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1991, 1292.
4. Horiuchi, T.; Shirakawa, E.; Nozaki, K.; Takaya, H. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 1997, 8, 57.
5. Casalnuovo, A. L.; RajanBabu, T. V.; Ayers, T. A.; Warren, T. H. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1994, 116, 9869.
6. RajanBabu, T. V.; Casalnuovo, A. L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 6325.
7. Yan, M.; Yang, L. W.; Wong, K. Y.; Chan, A. S. C. Chem. Commun. 1999, 11.
8. Yan, M.; Chan, A. S. C. Tetrahedron Lett. 1999, 40, 6645.
9. Tolman, C. A. J. Chem. Educ. 1986, 63, 199.
10. Goertz, W.; Keim, W.; Vogt, D.; Englert, U.; Boele, M. D. K.; van der Veen, L. A.; Kamer, P. C. J.; van Leeuwen, P. W. N.
M. J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. 1998, 2981.